Medical Marijuana Is Preferred By 93% Of Patients For Pain Management

A new study has investigated what patients themselves prefer when it comes to managing pain — opioids, which are widely distributed for intense pain relief, or medical marijuana.

The researchers found that the patients themselves much prefer medical marijuana, and many believe it is just as effective for their pain.

“This study can conclude that medical cannabis patients report successfully using cannabis along with or as a substitute for opioid-based pain medication,” the team reported in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

“Patients in this study who are using cannabis and opioids report that they are able to use less opioids and that cannabis presents less unwanted side effects than their opioid-based medication.”

The researchers, from University of California Berkeley and Kent State University emailed participants a survey asking them about their pain, and their opioid and marijuana usage.

Out of the 2,810 participants who were currently using cannabis, 828 had used opioids in the last six months to manage their pain.

Of that group, “97 percent of the sample ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that they are able to decrease the amount of opioids they consume when they also use cannabis. In addition, 89 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking opioids produces unwanted side effects such as constipation and nausea,” the researchers wrote.

But interestingly, the researchers also found that “81 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking cannabis by itself was more effective at treating their condition than taking cannabis with opioids.”

Basically — if given the choice, many of the participants would prefer to use cannabis than opioids.

Although opioids are an important part of managing pain, nearly 100 people are dying a day due to abusive opioid usage, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is a combination of heroin, and prescription opioids such as morphine and codeine.

“Prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Alternatives to opioids for the treatment of pain are necessary to address this issue,” the researchers write.

Although marijuana is far from a perfect solution, there has been no recorded overdoses from marijuana — and this study has shown that the patients themselves rate the drug highly for pain management.

Unfortunately this study leaves some things to be desired – the reporting was all personal, which can sometimes cause biases. It also took its sample from HelloMD, an online community for medical cannabis patients, who were probably more likely to have had success with cannabis for their pain in the past.

However, the study is still interesting, and shows that many people really do prefer using marijuana than opioids for pain management.

Plus, it gives scientists even more of a reason to find out how marijuana affects people over longer periods, and how harm could be minimized in the future.

Re: Medical Marijuana Is Preferred By 93% Of Patients For Pain Management

Originally Posted by Ron Strider

A new study has investigated what patients themselves prefer when it comes to managing pain — opioids, which are widely distributed for intense pain relief, or medical marijuana.

The researchers found that the patients themselves much prefer medical marijuana, and many believe it is just as effective for their pain.

“This study can conclude that medical cannabis patients report successfully using cannabis along with or as a substitute for opioid-based pain medication,” the team reported in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

“Patients in this study who are using cannabis and opioids report that they are able to use less opioids and that cannabis presents less unwanted side effects than their opioid-based medication.”

The researchers, from University of California Berkeley and Kent State University emailed participants a survey asking them about their pain, and their opioid and marijuana usage.

Out of the 2,810 participants who were currently using cannabis, 828 had used opioids in the last six months to manage their pain.

Of that group, “97 percent of the sample ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that they are able to decrease the amount of opioids they consume when they also use cannabis. In addition, 89 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking opioids produces unwanted side effects such as constipation and nausea,” the researchers wrote.

But interestingly, the researchers also found that “81 percent ‘strongly agreed/agreed’ that taking cannabis by itself was more effective at treating their condition than taking cannabis with opioids.”

Basically — if given the choice, many of the participants would prefer to use cannabis than opioids.

Although opioids are an important part of managing pain, nearly 100 people are dying a day due to abusive opioid usage, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is a combination of heroin, and prescription opioids such as morphine and codeine.

“Prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Alternatives to opioids for the treatment of pain are necessary to address this issue,” the researchers write.

Although marijuana is far from a perfect solution, there has been no recorded overdoses from marijuana — and this study has shown that the patients themselves rate the drug highly for pain management.

Unfortunately this study leaves some things to be desired – the reporting was all personal, which can sometimes cause biases. It also took its sample from HelloMD, an online community for medical cannabis patients, who were probably more likely to have had success with cannabis for their pain in the past.

However, the study is still interesting, and shows that many people really do prefer using marijuana than opioids for pain management.

Plus, it gives scientists even more of a reason to find out how marijuana affects people over longer periods, and how harm could be minimized in the future.

Re: Medical Marijuana Is Preferred By 93% Of Patients For Pain Management

As a chronic pain sufferer, from 2 failed spinal surgeries, I have weaned myself off of the opiates that were being prescribed by doctors over the last 20 years. I was taking 240 mg of Oxycontin per day and working full time. I was laid off in 2010 and after 4 years of trying to find work, decided to focus on my health and "retired".

The pain is still there, but with cannabis I can use edibles and CBD in a vapor pen to control the discomfort, notice I said discomfort, not pain. The cannabis helps me relax and controls the back spasms that are caused by nerve damage. Another bonus effect was that I could get out and walk, when before I was too tired after work to do anything other than go to bed while on the opiates. I have lost 160 pounds in the last 3 years from eating better, munchies were/are controlled better, eating healthier and walking at least an hour per day.

Cannabis, I feel, saved my life due to the amount of depression and physical issues. During the time I took opiates. I was not in a good place, but now I look to the future getting better. I am an outspoken advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana for pain relief because I know it works for me. It took a while to find the right combination of THC and CBD to make life better for me, but anyone who is a similar position as me should try cannabis to get their life back from the dangerous medications that are being pushed by big pharma for profit only and not care of the patient...

BTW I suffered no withdrawal from the opiates due to medical supervision, and I have NO DESIRE to go back to the opiates even though I still have some "for emergency".

I would like to see the federal government end the prohibition of cannabis as soon as possible, because cannabis is an alternate treatment that has not been fully explored and documented. I can only hope that the American public will get over the Scare of 1937, get rid of the people like AG Jeff Sessions who is rooted in the past and elect officials who will take cannabis off the Schedule 1 classification, so that others can do as I have done to help myself to become healthier and HAPPIER!!